More Young Sailors Are Needed on Racing Yachts

11th October 2019

ICOYC President Andy Anderson Credit: Bob Bateman

The shortage of young sailors on racing boats is a universal problem.

That is the opinion of Andy Anderson, President of the International Council of Yacht Clubs. It is one of the issues which clubs need to deal with in a modern world with a different approach to the sport, he says

One of the greatest attractions of sailing for him is that “it brings you in close touch with Nature,” which underlines the importance of sustainability in sailing and its involvement with the environment.

"Sailing for him is that “it brings you in close touch with Nature"

This, he believes, will become “an exponential issue over the next few years.”

He is my guest on this week’s podcast, discussing a wide variety of sailing issues, viewed from his perspective of a lifetime in the sport in New Zealand where he has been Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club. He emphasised the importance of club structures in fostering the development of sailing and began the interview by referring to the public perception of sailing.

Listen to the Podcast below

Published in Tom MacSweeney, Youth Sailing

Published in Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney writes a column for Afloat.ie. He is former RTE Marine Correspondent/Presenter of Seascapes and now has a monthly Podcast on the Community Radio Network and Podcast services

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